Systems and methods for control of a torsional material testing system based on operational states of the torsional material testing system

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a torsional material testing system, which includes a rotatable actuator, such as a motor, configured to perform a torsional material testing operation. During a torsional material testing operation, a virtual interlock is configured to engage or disengage with the actuator to prevent or allow rotational movement of the actuator (e.g., during a setup state or during a torsional material testing operation, respectively). A control circuitry is employed to control the virtual interlock as well as the torsional testing system based on one or more operational states before, during, or after a material testing process.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A material testing system, comprising:
 a rotatable actuator configured to control an operator-accessible torsional testing component of the material testing system; 
 a virtual interlock configured to engage or disengage with the actuator to prevent or allow rotational movement of the actuator; 
 a brake configured to lock the rotational movement of the rotatable actuator; and 
 control circuitry configured to:
 control the actuator to perform a material testing process; 
 monitor a plurality of inputs associated with operation of the material testing system; 
 identify an operational state of the material testing system from a plurality of predetermined operational states based on the plurality of inputs and the material testing process, the plurality of predetermined operational states comprising one or more of a disabled state, a setup state, a caution state, or a testing state; 
 control the virtual interlock based on the identified state; 
 identify activation of a non-rotational testing process; and 
 engage the brake to lock the actuator from rotational movement in response. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The material testing system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the virtual interlock is configured to prevent one or more of power or control signals from activating rotational movement of the actuator. 
     
     
       3. The material testing system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to control the virtual interlock to engage or disengage in response to a signal from one or more sensors. 
     
     
       4. The material testing system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein engagement of the virtual interlock corresponds to a restricted mode, such that the disabled state, the caution state, and the setup state correspond to the restricted mode preventing operation of the actuator. 
     
     
       5. The material testing system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the restriction mode corresponds to application of restrictions on the actuator while the control circuitry does not control the actuator in response to operator inputs. 
     
     
       6. The material testing system as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the restrictions include one or more of limiting a rotational speed of the actuator, limiting a number of revolutions of the actuator, or limiting an angle of rotation of the actuator. 
     
     
       7. The material testing system as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the limiting is limited to a particular threshold or limited to zero movement. 
     
     
       8. The material testing system as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the testing state corresponds to an unrestricted mode allowing operation of the actuator, the testing state corresponds to a reduction in restrictions on the actuator operation while controlling the actuator to perform a torsional material testing process or a jog or a return. 
     
     
       9. The material testing system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the virtual interlock is engaged and the brake is disengaged and the actuator is configured to allow the operator to manually position the actuator in the setup state. 
     
     
       10. The material testing system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry comprises:
 a control processor configured to perform the control of the actuator; and 
 one or more safety processors configured to perform the monitoring of the plurality of inputs, the identifying the state of the material testing system, and the controlling of the virtual interlock. 
 
     
     
       11. The material testing system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the non-rotational testing process comprises an axial testing process. 
     
     
       12. The material testing system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the non-rotational testing operates under a plurality of predetermined operational states comprising one or more of a disabled state, a setup state, a caution state, or a testing state. 
     
     
       13. The material testing system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the operational state of the non-rotational testing process holds priority over the operational state of the torsional system. 
     
     
       14. The material testing system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein when the non-rotational testing process is operating in the setup state, the control circuitry is configured to control the virtual interlock to engage to prevent powered rotational movement of the torsional system. 
     
     
       15. A material testing system, comprising:
 a rotatable actuator configured to control an operator-accessible torsional testing component of the material testing system; 
 a brake configured to prevent rotational movement of the rotatable actuator; 
 a virtual interlock configured to engage or disengage with the actuator to prevent or allow rotational movement of the actuator; and 
 control circuitry configured to:
 control the actuator to perform a material testing process; 
 monitor a plurality of inputs associated with operation of the material testing system; 
 identify an operational state of the material testing system from a plurality of predetermined operational states based on the plurality of inputs and the material testing process, the plurality of predetermined operational states comprising one or more of a disabled state, a setup state, a caution state, or a testing state; 
 control the virtual interlock based on the identified state; 
 identify activation of a non-rotational testing process; and 
 engage the brake to lock the actuator from rotational movement in response. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The material testing system as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the brake is configured to physically lock the actuator from free rotational movement. 
     
     
       17. The material testing system as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the brake is configured for manual engagement or disengagement. 
     
     
       18. The material testing system as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to identify activation of a non-rotational testing process and engage the brake or the virtual interlock to lock the actuator from free rotational movement in response. 
     
     
       19. The material testing system as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the non-rotational testing process comprises an axial testing process.